New Zealand launched their title defense in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship with an impressive 8-0 win over New Caledonia at HFC Bank Stadium today.
The Kiwis exhibited strong performance from the outset, overshadowing New Caledonia’s attempts to find their rhythm early on. The scoring began in the fifth minute when Keira Tichbon found the net after a slick combination with Pia Vlok.
New Caledonia almost equalized shortly after but their shot narrowly missed the target, allowing New Zealand to maintain their lead. Laura Bennett swiftly doubled the Kiwis’ advantage by tapping in a rebound in the 12th minute.
Grace Duncan further increased the lead with a well-placed shot, benefitting from another assist by Vlok, who played a crucial role in the first half. Despite their efforts, including a near goal from Kinë Hmaen that sailed just over the crossbar, New Zealand remained in control.
Bennett scored again, converting a cross from Vlok into the net. The first half concluded with a well-coordinated play between Tichbon and Duncan, resulting in a 5-0 lead at halftime.
New Caledonia’s determination was evident, highlighted by a crucial goal-line save from Taylh Byers that denied them a chance to get on the scoreboard. In the second half, Bennett completed her hat-trick and added a fourth goal by slicing through the defense to score.
The match’s highlight was a stunning free-kick by Duncan, which soared into the top corner, capping off a dominant performance by New Zealand. This victory sets a high bar for the defending champions as they aim to retain their title in the tournament.